Sports writer for The Age

Collingwood defender Nick Maxwell could spend the rest of his final season on the brink of suspension if the match review panel punishes him for a high bump at the weekend.

The player who was the victim of that bump, Richmond captain Trent Cotchin, will himself be sweating on the panel's appraisal of an apparent blow to the midriff of Collingwood's Clinton Young on Friday night. However it's unlikely he will be sidelined for the club's must-win match in Brisbane this week, with even the least favourable penalty likely to result in a reprimand.

Sydney spearhead Lance Franklin is all but guaranteed of escaping punishment, despite being reported in his team's home loss to North Melbourne on Sunday.

Franklin was cited in the last quarter for striking Kangaroos defender Scott Thompson.

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It looks certain to be thrown out by the panel because he only half-heartedly connected with his arm to Thompson's head as he ran the ball out of defence, an act worth no more than a down-field free-kick.

Franklin has 68.75 carry-over points for rough conduct in round 23 last year.

Cotchin clashed with Young late in the Tigers' hefty loss to the Magpies, in which he was blanketed by tagger Brent Macaffer.

He is expected to avoid a charge, because of a lack of impact.

Earlier in the match, Cotchin was waiting on the outside of a pack when he was bumped by Maxwell, who was not in the Tiger's field of vision.

While Maxwell's shoulder undoubtedly struck Cotchin's head, the conduct grading will probably be limited to negligent, because he did not jump when delivering the bump.

The report against Carlton's Robbie Warnock for striking while grappling with fellow ruckman Jake Spencer, of Melbourne, is likely to be thrown out due to insufficient impact.

Influential Western Bulldogs defender Dale Morris is set to be punished for a trip that caused him an injury which could be more costly for him than any disciplinary penalty, albeit it involved the opposite leg to the one that was so badly broken he did not play at all in 2012.

Morris stuck out his left leg in an attempt to hinder the Giants' Will Hoskin-Elliott, who was streaming forward. Both players were substituted as a result of the second-quarter clash.

Scans on Sunday confirmed Morris escaped structural damage to his ankle, although medical staff will wait until Tuesday, when swelling to the ankle is likely to have subsided, to determine his availability for the match against Carlton on Sunday.

If Morris is charged, the impact would likely be at least medium, but the conduct could be deemed reckless rather than intentional. He qualifies for a 25 per cent discount as a result of his good behaviour over the past six years.